Steam output control structure for steam cleaner

ABSTRACT

A steam output control structure includes a hose extended from the housing of a steam cleaner and having a grip at the end, a control valve mounted in the grip for output f steam, a heat-resisting high-tension tube connected between the control valve and the steam output port of the steam cleaner, the control valve having a spout for steam output and a valve rod supported on a spring member and adapted to close the steam passage between the spout and the heat-resisting high-tension tube, and a control knob pivoted to the grip and adapted to open the valve rod for letting steam pass from the heat-resisting high-tension tube to the spout.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a steam cleaner, and moreparticularly, to a steam output control structure for steam cleaner thatuses a spring member and a control knob to control the position of acontrol rod, to further close/open the steam passage.

[0002] Various steam cleaners have been disclosed for home use, and haveappeared on the market. These steam cleaners commonly comprise a steamchamber adapted to heat water into steam, a steam hose for output ofsteam. During operation, steam is directly guided out of the steam hosefor application. When turning off the electric heater in the steamchamber, residual steam still continuously escapes out of the steamchamber, and water drops tend to be produced at the spout of the steamhose to wet the floor or carpet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention has been accomplished to provide a steamoutput control structure for steam cleaner, which eliminates theaforesaid problem. It is the main object of the present invention toprovide a steam output control structure for steam cleaner, which caneasily be operated to stop the output of steam during operation of thesteam cleaner. According to the present invention, the steam outputcontrol structure comprises a hose extended from the housing of a steamcleaner and having a grip at the end, a control valve mounted in thegrip for output of steam, a heat-resisting high-tension tube connectedbetween the control valve and the steam output port of the steamcleaner, the control valve having a spout for steam output and a valverod supported on a spring member and adapted to close the steam passagebetween the spout and the heat-resisting high-tension tube, and acontrol knob pivoted to the grip and adapted to open the valve rod forletting steam pass from the heat-resisting high-tension tube to thespout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a steam cleaner constructedaccording to the present invention.

[0005]FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of the steamoutput control structure in the steam cleaner according to the presentinvention.

[0006]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a part of the steam output controlstructure, showing the structure of the grip and the control valveaccording to the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing the action of the controlknob and the control valve according to the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a part of the present invention,showing the control valve positioned in the grip, the push portion ofthe control knob stopped at the bottom end of the valve rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0009] Referring to FIGS. from 1 through 5, a steam cleaner 4 is shownhaving a hose 3 extended from the front side of the housing thereof. Thehose 3 has a grip 1 at the remote end (the end remote from the housingof the steam cleaner 4). A control valve 2 is installed in the grip 1,having one end terminating in a spout 21 and the other end terminatingin a steam inlet pipe 22, which is connected to one end of aheat-resisting high-tension tube 31. The heat-resisting high-tensiontube 31 is inserted through the hose 3 and connected to the steam outletpipe 42 of the steam chamber 41 of the steam cleaner 4. The controlvalve 2 has a valve hole 23 extended to the bottom side thereof anddisposed in fluid communication with the spout 21 and the steam inletpipe 22. The valve hole 23 receives a spring 25, and a valve rod 24supported on the spring 25. The valve rod 24 has an expanded top end242, and expanded bottom end 243, and a neck 241 connected between theexpanded top end 242 and the expanded bottom end 243. Two seal rings2421 and 2431 are respectively mounted on the expanded top end 242 andexpanded bottom end 243 and disposed in close contact with theperipheral wall of the valve hole 23 of the control valve 2 to seal thegap between the control valve 2 and the valve rod 24. A control knob 26is pivoted to the grip 1, having a push portion 261 disposed in contactwith one end of the valve rod 24 remote from the spring 25.

[0010] When pressing the control knob 26 during the operation of thesteam cleaner 4, the push portion 261 is forced to move the valve rod 24upwards in the valve hole 23 against the spring 25, enabling steam topass from the steam inlet pipe 22 to the spout 21 through the spaceinside the valve hole 23 around the neck 241 of the valve rod 24 forcleaning application. On the contrary, when releasing the control knob26, the spring 25 immediately pushes the valve rod 24 to its originalposition to close the passage between the steam inlet pipe 22 and thespout 21, and therefore steam is stopped from passing out of the controlvalve 2.

[0011] It is to be understood that the drawings are designed forpurposes of illustration only, and are not intended for use as adefinition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A steam output control structureinstalled in a steam cleaner having a steam chamber and a steam outletpipe for output of steam and adapted to control the output of steam fromthe steam cleaner, comprising a hose extended from a front side of thehousing of the steam cleaner, a grip fixedly fastened to one end of saidhose remote from the housing of the steam cleaner, a control valvemounted in said grip, a heat-resisting high-tension tube connectedbetween said control valve and the steam outlet pipe of the steamcleaner and adapted to guide steam from the steam outlet pipe of thesteam cleaner to said control valve for application, said control valvecomprising a spout at a front side thereof, a steam inlet pipe disposedat a rear side thereof and connected to one end of said heat-resistinghigh-tension tube, a valve hole extended to a bottom side thereof anddisposed in fluid communication with said spout and said steam inletpipe, a valve rod mounted in said valve hole and moved between a firstposition where said valve rod closes the passage between said spout andsaid steam inlet pipe and a second position where said valve rod opensthe passage between said spout and said steam inlet pipe, and a springmember mounted in said valve hole to hold said valve rod in said firstposition, and a control knob pivoted to said grip and stopped at one endof said valve rod outside said valve hole and adapted to move said valverod to said second position against said spring member.